In the January 2012 Model Railroader, Jim Richards explains how he kitbashed a Walthers double-track swing bridge into an offset swing bridge. The prototype Milwaukee Road bridge Jim modeled first appeared in the July 1947 MR. […]
Section: How To
Big Island Rail
Name: Big Island Rail Corp. Layout designer: Joesph Kreiss Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 10 x 11 feet Prototype: Hawaii Consolidated Ry. Locale: Hawaii Era: present day Style: walk-in Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 1 percent Originally appeared in the January 2012 issue of Model Railroader. Click on the link to download […]
Terminal RR of San Antonio
Name: Terminal RR of San Antonio Layout designer: Bill Carpenter Scale: N (1:160) Size: 10′-2″ x 13′-0″ Locale: downtown San Antonio Prototype: Southern Pacific and Texas & New Orleans Era: 1950s Style: walk-in, and around the walls with roll-away peninsula Minimum radius: 15″ Mainline run: 32 feet Minimum turnout: no. 5 Originally appeared in the […]
The Virginian
Name: The Virginian Layout designer: David Popp Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 4 x 8 feet, plus extensions Prototype: Virginian Ry. Locale: West Virginia Era: spring 1955 Style: island, portable Mainline run: 18 feet Minimum radius: 22″ (main), 18″ (branch) Minimum turnout: Atlas Snap-Switch Maximum grade: 3 percent Originally appeared in the January 2012 issue of […]
Operating paperwork for the Virginian Ry.
Using a Boulder Creek Engineering digital scale, Kalmbach Publishing designer Drew Halverson records the weights of loaded coal hoppers on a mine-block sheet. Model Railroader‘s HO scale project layout is based on the Virginian Ry. in Spring of 1955. It’s a 4 x 8 operating layout with a number of places that it can be […]
How to use the Kadee Gripper to work on model train cars
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Model Railroader associate editor Cody Grivno shows how to use the Kadee five-prong gripper to test screws on your freight cars. […]
Basic Training: How to install rail joiners
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Scale model railroad track uses rail joiners to connect the rails. In this basic training video you’ll learn about different types of rail joiners and learn the proper technique for installing them. […]
Basic Training: How to install rail joiners
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Scale model railroad track uses rail joiners to connect the rails. In this basic training video you’ll learn about different types of rail joiners and learn the proper technique for installing them. […]
Build an O gauge shelf layout
Layout designer: Neal Mayer Scale: O Layout size: 4 x 6 feet Track type: Lionel FasTrack Minimum curve: O-36 Originally appeared in the October 2011 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Click on the links below to view PDF’s for the o gauge shelf layout. Track Plans Schematics Parts […]
Christmas tree track plan: Continuous corner railroad
Layout designer: Kent Johnson Scale: O Layout size: 4 x 4 feet Track type: K-Line by Lionel SuperStreets Minimum curve: D16 curve Originally appeared in the December 2011 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Click here to download a PDF of this track plan. […]
Christmas tree track plan: A pointy pike
Layout designer: Kent Johnson Scale: O Layout size: 4 1/2 by 4 1/2 feet Track type: GarGraves Minimum curve: O-31 wye turnout Originally appeared in the December 2011 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Click here to view a PDF of the track plan. […]
Christmas tree track plan: Slim line route
Layout designer: Kent Johnson Scale: O Layout size: 5 x 5 feet Track type: Lionel FasTrack Minimum curve: O-36 Originally appeared in the December 2011 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Click here to download a PDF of this track plan. […]